Risking a series of spoiler alerts, suffice it to say that — miraculously — the play follows Hitchcock’s story line: handsome man innocently becomes snared in nefarious espionage intrigue and must exonerate himself with the authorities while escaping evil men pursing him. Oh, of course, there also is a beautiful, mysterious woman.

In Barlow’s comic play, most evident from the outset is the sheer brazenness of his concept and script. Barlow -- an English playwright, comedian and actor -- adapts Hitchcock’s convoluted, much-esteemed film using just four performers to play the myriad roles filling the movie. Set and props are minimal to non-existent.

Yet Barlow’s script also retains most of the scenes from Hitchcock’s film — including those on a rushing train, in a London music hall, crashing airplanes, a sheep-clogged country road, and sundry Scottish inns, mansions and hotels. Improvisation and mime dominate, while realism takes a holiday.

Guest director Brian Feehan succeeds gloriously, thanks to an enormously imaginative cast: Robbie Gay as victim-hero Richard Hannay; Laura Stuart Obenauf as three beautiful women; and local favorites Joe Aiello and Scott Burkell as — well, a cast of thousands, including theater performers, policemen and slippery hoods. Not enough can be said concerning these performers who, once under way, create irresistible comic momentum.

As always true with farce, timing is all. In the Farmer Alley staging, timing is razor sharp, despite countless character switches and costume and set changes. Equally crucial to the production’s success, obviously, are the crew and backstage personnel, including Fred Gillette (Technical Director), W. Douglas Blickle (Scenic Design), David Downey (Lighting Design) and others too numerous to list.

Two caveats: if you are hooked on the original Hitchcock more sober spy movie, the levity of this comedy-cum-farce might seem over-done. Or if slapstick in general is not your taste, you probably could live without seeing this play. But otherwise, you will want to see — and enjoy — this production.